Monthly Archives: October 2011

I feel as if I have reached a milestone in my veterinary
training. Last week, I successfully completed my first dog
spay. There were many classes and much training leading up to
this point, including an introduction to anesthesia and surgery
course last year and our current junior surgery course. In
addition to watching countless numbers of spays and neuters while
previously working at an animal shelter, I had assumed this would
be no big deal. I had a team of two other classmates, one
working anesthesia, and one as a surgery assistant. I also had
several professors and technicians as guides during the entire
procedure.
I entered the surgery suite feeling totally prepared, but there
is still the nervousness that comes from the life of another
creature being in your hands. This was not just any patient
for me, but one I had gotten to know pretty well over the previous
week. The dogs and cats we spayed last wee...
(Read More)

When people ask me how I spend my time as a veterinary student,
my go-to answer is usually "Studying!" But inevitably, there comes
a time during the semester when you've just gotten past a whole
bunch of tests, or you just want a break from studying, and you're
left with some time on your hands. The question then becomes, "what
am I supposed to do with all this time?" Some people spend
this gift of time exercising, some people just stay at home, others
go out with friends…me, I love to go to A&M football games! As
an undergrad, my school's athletic program was respectable, but
nothing like Kyle Field on a game day. Growing up, I'd always watch
college football with my dad, cheering for our favorite teams. I
always wished that I could go to games like the ones on TV; the
ones with thousands and thousands of fans, tailgates, and so much
school spirit that you could smell it in the air. I never had that,
at least until I went to my first A&...
(Read More)

Well,
this week there is a calm, almost a relaxed feeling throughout most
of the school. The first,
second, and third year classes have all made it through their weeks
full of midterm exams, and now we have a moment to breathe. Many of my classmates, and
myself, have finally been able to watch those TV shows we have on
the DVR, or catch up with those friends we've ignored for two
weeks. As I sit in the
computer lab typing this blog, I can hear classmates around me
enjoying silly websites and facebook… things we haven't allowed
ourselves to enjoy in the weeks leading up to midterms. The previous couple of weeks have
been stressful, and difficult to power through, but we have made
it, and there is visible relief and joy on every students face.
We are so grateful to have
this time to remember that we do enjoy vet school, we enjoy each
other's company and we really are living the dream. This week is the only true week
that we have a break in s...
(Read More)

Ah, yes, midterms. Anna wrote about them last week before
they truly began, so now that they are over and I've had a weekend
to reflect, here's what I learned (or what I knew but had
reinforced): my class is my family. I would not have survived
midterms (or first year) without my classmates to help me prepare,
get through and recover. They're there to listen when you need to
complain about studying, and to motivate you when things get
tough. Sure, I have my real family and my friends outside of
vet school, but they can only help up to a point. Not to
mention that my non-vet friends and family don't necessarily want
to hear about the pig parasites I have to study or how difficult
the dissection was this week. The 130 people I see everyday
know exactly what I'm going through because they're going through
it too.
It's not even just the emotional support that this incredible
network provides. Many of my awe...
(Read More)

For some odd reason, the second year veterinary curriculum
reintroduces the midterm concept. I can't remember the last
time I heard a test called a midterm. It just seems so much
more…. foreboding and cumbersome. To make it more fun, our
three midterms/ exams/ whatever you want to call them, are
back-to-back this week. Just like final exams, except we
still have to go to class and lab every day. So, tonight as I
sit right in the middle of my study marathon (yes, believe it or
not, I studied all day Saturday and Sunday), I decided I needed to
look at the bright side of midterms. Honestly, as I attempted
to study three different subjects at once today, the bright side
wasn't too hard to find.
It's integration. It's the culmination of years of
education that have led us to the point where all knowledge finally
starts to mesh. All day I had those "ooooo that's why I had
to learn that" moments where im...
(Read More)

Hello all! Well the first round of exams is now over and
I'm looking towards the second round starting… NEXT WEEK! But these
past few weeks have been interesting. I am learning so much -
how the body works, how big of a difference those tiny little
details make. And excitingly enough, I'm starting to learn
how all of these things are "clinically applicable", meaning, how
can I apply this to a real life situation. I'm starting to
learn why my instructors have been teaching me critical thinking
skills for several years, and now I'm finally seeing a peek of what
my life as a physician will be like! I'm learning the importance of
piecing every little detail together to conclude with a diagnosis
that could possibly change somebody's life.
On a different note, the other day I was reading this article about
a mother tiger giving birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs,
and due to complications of the pregnancy, the cu...
(Read More)

Howdy! My name is Tess and I am so happy to be a veterinary
student! Life is good. My ultimate life goal has always been to
become a veterinarian. I wrote "class of 2013" in highlighter above
my desk to keep me motivated. I cannot express to you how excited I
was the day I received my acceptance letter. However, once I
started vet school I fell into a goal slump. Other than obviously
to graduate from vet school, I didn't have any real goals set. Huge
mistake! I can't stress how important it is to always have a goal
in your life. It needs to be something that is challenging but
realistic. Once you set this new goal, hold yourself accountable by
telling your friends and family about it. I know for a fact many
people thought I was crazy when I told them I wanted to go to vet
school. All I heard was, "Oh, isn't that harder than med school?"
and "what's your backup plan?" However, having a goal and a "plan
of attack" helped me to make it happen. If you...
(Read More)

This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Southwest
Veterinary Symposium (SWVS) in San Antonio, Texas. After a
demanding week of clinical pathology case write-ups, preparing for
surgery and pig-wrangling, a few classmates and I made our way
south for a weekend of networking, learning, and relaxing with our
future colleagues. My friends and I agreed we were in desperate
need of a weekend away from College Station. What better way to
spend that weekend than on the Riverwalk, enjoying a surplus of
authentic Mexican food? Like a flashback to elementary school, the
bell rang on Friday afternoon and we were out of there!
SWVS is a unique partnership among fellow state veterinary
medical associations and sponsors. Veterinary associations from
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama,
Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee host this annual symposium
each fall to enrich the veterinary profession with continuing
education cours...
(Read More)